2011

Funded by Employment Ontario

Essential Skills: Getting People Better Prepared for Work

1

Essential Skills Workshop

Table of Contents

Overview of Project New Skills ................................................................................................. 2

Demand for Essential Skills .................................................................................................... 2

Literacy in Canada ....................................................................................................................... 3

Manufacturing in Hamilton ....................................................................................................... 4

Fast Facts about Manufacturing in Hamilton ...................................................................... 4

The Future of Manufacturing ................................................................................................. 5

What are Essential Skills? ........................................................................................................... 6

Defining Essential Skills .......................................................................................................... 7

1. Reading .............................................................................................................................. 7

2. Writing includes................................................................................................................ 7

3. Document Use ................................................................................................................... 7

4. Numeracy .......................................................................................................................... 8

5. Computer Use ................................................................................................................... 8

6. Thinking ............................................................................................................................. 8

7. Oral Communication ........................................................................................................ 8

8. Working with Others ....................................................................................................... 8

9. Continuous Learning ...................................................................................................... 8

Soft Skills ................................................................................................................................... 9

Educational Pathways ............................................................................................................... 10

Case Studies ............................................................................................................................ 10

Where to go to Upgrade Essential Skills ................................................................................ 11

Checklist for Success ................................................................................................................ 112

Resources ..................................................................................................................................... 13

Essential Skills ......................................................................................................................... 13

Labour Market Information .................................................................................................. 17

References ................................................................................................................................... 20

2

Overview of Project New Skills

Project New Skills was a Workplace Literacy Essential Skills (WLES) project partnership

between Mohawk College, Adult Basic Education Association and the Hamilton

Training Advisory Board. This Hamilton project was to help determine an individual’s

learning needs to support their employment, education and/or training goals.

Through this project an individual could access

essential skills assessments

upgrading courses

essential skills for manufacturing workshops

Demand for Essential Skills

a. Studies show that a majority of jobs created in the near future will require

higher skill levels.1

b. This shift is being felt in other industrialized regions as well, including the

United Kingdom2 and European Union.3

c. Project New Skills focused on the continued importance of the Manufacturing

sector in Hamilton.

3

Literacy in Canada

The Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey (ALLS)4 is an international survey of prose,

document and quantitative skills across a 5 point scale (same as Essential Skills levels).

Level 3 is considered the level needed to fully participate in today’s society.

a) 22% of Canadians were at Level 1

b) 26% of Canadians were at Level 2

48% of Canadians can’t deal with everyday literacy demands.

How does this affect our local workforce?

a. Low scoring adults are 2.5 times more likely to be unemployed compared to

those scoring at Level 3 or higher.

b. 50% of Canadians participated in education/training in 2003 (33% increase from

1994). However, only 20% of those at Level 1 and just over 40% of those at Level

2 participated.

c. Grade 12 graduation rates have been slowly but steadily increasing although the

drop-out rate is still 25%.5

d. Those that leave school have a harder time finding work than those that

graduate (only 61.7% of drop-outs were employed in 2004-2005).6

e. 90% of clients with a Grade 12 still need literacy and essential skills upgrading

before moving on to further education/training.7

4

Manufacturing in Hamilton

In 2006, Hamilton’s manufacturing industry employed 32,905 people, equaling 17% of

the total workforce.8

Fast Facts

a. Workers are usually between 45 – 54 years of age.

b. 15% of the workforce is over 55 years of age.

c. The highest level of education for most workers in this industry is a high school

diploma or equivalent.

d. The manufacturing industry has a higher number of immigrant workers at 33%

compared to 26% across all industries.

31-33 Manufacturing17%

62 Health care and social assistance

15%

44-45 Retail trade12%

All other industries56%

Top Industries of Employment in Hamilton

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As of December 2010, there were a total of 1,045

employers in manufacturing.

Hamilton’s top 3 sectors in manufacturing based on

the total number of businesses are

1. Fabricated metal product manufacturing

2. Miscellaneous manufacturing

3. Machinery manufacturing9

The Future of Manufacturing

The manufacturing workforce is changing in response to global demands. By 2020,

Canada’s manufacturing workforce will be much different from today.8

The new skills needed will be

a mix of creative problem-solving skills, technical know-how, business skills,

and an ability to interact with colleagues and customers

a higher degree of technical and technological skill

an ability to adapt easily to constantly changing roles in constantly changing

workplaces.10

6

What are Essential Skills?

“Literacy and Essential Skills are the skills needed

for work, learning and life. They provide the

foundation for learning all other skills and enable

people to evolve with their jobs and adapt to

workplace change.”11

There are nine Essential Skills

1. Reading Text

2. Document Use

3. Numeracy

4. Writing

5. Oral Communication

6. Working with Others

7. Continuous Learning

8. Thinking Skills

9. Computer Use

Essential Skills tasks are measured using a scale from 1 (less difficult) to 5 (most

difficult).

7

Defining Essential Skills

1. Reading

Reading materials that are in the form of sentences or paragraphs such as

notes, letters, memos, manuals

forms and labels if they contain at least one paragraph

print and non-print media (for example, text on computer screens)

paragraph-length text in charts, tables and graphs

2. Writing

Using your skills to write

texts

fill out documents (for example - employment forms)

non-paper-based documents (for example – using a computer)

3. Document Use

Using documents with graphic elements (e.g., line, colour, shape) such as

graphs

lists

tables

blueprints

drawings

signs

labels

8

4. Numeracy

Using numbers to complete your job tasks.

5. Computer Use

Using computers to complete your job tasks.

6. Thinking

Using your skills to

problem solve

make decisions

think critically

plan and organize job tasks

remember information

find information

7. Oral Communication

Communicating when you work - speaking and listening.

8. Working with Others

Do you have to work co-operatively with others?

Do you have to have the self-discipline to meet work targets while working alone?

9. Continuous Learning

More and more jobs require continuous upgrading. You will need to keep learning

to keep or to grow with your job.

9

Soft Skills

Four of these nine Essential Skills can be considered to be soft skills. Soft skills are the

personal traits, communication styles and personal habits that help us work with

others.

Thinking Skills

Oral Communication

Working with Others

Continuous Learning

These skills are in high demand by today’s advanced manufacturers.

10

Educational Pathways

Essential Skills upgrading is important to prepare you for further education, training

and employment so that you

can refresh your skills and feel confident

are prepared for the workload

can be successful on workplace entrance tests

complete work tasks independently

Case Studies

Meet Lori

Lori has some manufacturing experience but would like to take the Manufacturing

Techniques program at Mohawk College to become a millwright apprentice. She will

likely need to upgrade her reading text, writing and numeracy skills in order to enter

the program.

Meet Matt

Matt has been laid off for more than a year and is trying to get a job at one of the

Hamilton steelmakers. He’s has gotten as far as the entrance testing but hasn’t been

called in for an interview. Matt likely needs to upgrade his reading text, document use

and computer skills to be successful on this test in order to get an interview.

11

Where to go to Upgrade Essential Skills

In Hamilton, the Adult Basic Education Association (ABEA) is the first stop for

education and training information. The ABEA is the Learning Network and offers free

information, referrals and fee for service assessments.

905-527-2222

email@abea.on.ca

www.abea.on.ca

12

Checklist for Success

You should

know your skills and strengths

know the essential skills needed for your employment

goal

know industry trends

use tools or resources to support your job search

treat your job search as if it’s a full time job

keep on top of relevant job training

13

Resources

Essential Skills

1. Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

This website has information on the Essential Skills as well as Essential Skills

employment profiles.

http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/workplaceskills/LES/index.shtml

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2. Office of Literacy and Essential Skills (OLES)

This website has Essential Skills information, needs assessments and learning and

training supports.

http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/workplaceskills/LES/tools_resources/job.shtml

15

3. How Do Your Skills Measure Up?

This website allows you to test and/or practice your reading text, document use

and numeracy skills.

http://measureup.towes.com/english/index.asp

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4. Ontario Skills Passport (OSP)

This website has Essential Skills descriptions and work habits, self-assessments,

tools and resources (including the ability to create work and transition plans).

http://skills.edu.gov.on.ca/OSPWeb/jsp/en/login.jsp

17

Labour Market Information

1. Working in Canada

This site provides detailed profiles on 520 occupations, offering information on job

postings, employment prospects, wages, etc. This is an excellent resource for job

seekers, students, and employment professionals.

www.workingcanada.gc.ca

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2. Ontario Job Futures

This site allows you to search for occupations and helps uncover the main duties,

education and training, employment prospects, income, etc. at the provincial level.

www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/ojf

19

3. Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME)

CME is Canada’s largest industry and trade association. This website offers

information on all aspects of the manufacturing industry across the country,

including: workforce development, business opportunities, best practices, events

and training opportunities.

www.cme-mec.ca

20

References

1Miner, R. (2010). People Without Jobs, Jobs Without People – Ontario Labour Market

Future. http://workforcecoalition.ca/downloads/people-without-jobs-jobs-without-

people-final.pdf

2BBC. (n.d.). Skillswise. http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/

3European Communities. (2007). The Key Competencies for Lifelong Learning – A

European Framework. http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/education_culture/publ/pdf/ll-

learning/keycomp_en.pdf

4Statistics Canada. (2003). Building Our Competencies: Canadian Results of the

International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey. Ottawa: HRSDC.

5Canadian Council on Learning. (2008). Evaluation of the Ontario Ministry of

Education’s Student Success/Learning to 18 Strategy – Final Report.

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/teachers/studentsuccess/CCL_SSE_Report.pdf

6Statistics Canada. (2008). Provincial Drop-Out Rates – Trends and Consequences.

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/81-004-x/2005004/8984-eng.htm

7Adult Basic Education Association. (2010). Educational Essential Skills Assessment

Project Data.

8Statistics Canada and Hamilton Training Advisory Board. (2006).

9 Statistics Canada, Canadian Business Patterns. (2010).

10Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters. (2005). The future of manufacturing in

Canada: Perspectives and Recommendations on Workforce Capabilities

11Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. (2011). Literacy and Essential

Skills. http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/workplaceskills/oles/olesindex_en.shtml

12Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. (2011). Definitions.

http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/workplaceskills/LES/definitions/definitions.shtml#reading